Finally he slipped into the palace, still in the visage of a wizened hermit.
Prince Anka sat on his throne, rubbing his temples. His eyes were closed tight, as if not seeing the demonic threat would make it go away. Too bad he didn't have coverings for his ears.
General Humbari, in his half bear form, roared, "We need to tell the people it's okay. Then we can send an army and finish the demons. We don't need to involve them in this."
General Divyan nearly whispered his response. "The few scout reports we still get state the army is much larger than our own. Right now it takes five well trained soldiers and spirits to take down one demon. There is no need for a siege: if they attack in the morning, a demon lord will sit on your throne by evening. We need to rally the people, and preferably flee from here. There are neighboring kingdoms—"
Prince Anka rose his hand and Divyan was quiet. The prince acknowledged Sugriva, though the prince didn't know who it was. "Hermit, I'm sure your dharma brought you here to share wisdom," Anka sighed. "Please, grace us with the knowledge of the Ashtadash."
"Prince Anka, I come with news on the demons."
"How does this hermit know about that?" Humbari roared.
Divyan shook his head. "We do not have walls around the countryside, general. Between fewer merchants and missing villages, they can figure it out."
"The demons will be here in two more weeks. Ravasha leads them. This should not be taken lightly, and you should look to your wall and your warriors. Kill what demons you can, but make sure your warriors are here when the hour of shadows and blood comes upon you." He feigned prophetic language as best he could, feeling uppity.
Prince Anka stood and walked down the stairs from his throne to the common chamber floor. "Your words are a curse on my kingdom and make my heart weep. Is there any way to meet him in the open field?"
"It would be unwise. His army is as countless as the trees in the Sankive Jungle. They will flow like the Gangre River in summer and sweep away anything trying to stand in their way." His tail waved under his shrouds, and Divyan cocked his head.
The hawk walked down and stood beside the prince. "Who are you, hermit? Who sent you?"
Sugriva hid his hands and sneaked his tail back under the clothes. "I was with the Ashtadash, and they told me not to come. However, I am from here, and it would injure my heart to watch Jaya fall."
"You broke your dharma for us," the prince said sorrowfully. "I am sorry you were required to make that choice. It must hurt to know you are straying from the path laid out directly by the Ashtadash. Did they say we can survive with your help?"
Divyan interrupted. "Sugriva?"
Prince Anka crinkled his nose, eyes blazing. He went up to Sugriva and ripped off the rice hat. "You fiend! You liar and schemer! Why do you tell us this news? Why do you rile us to war and beg us to pull our troops close when the villages we protect are mercilessly slaughtered?" He shook, then pointed at Sugriva. "Arrest him. We will execute him tomorrow, as was the punishment for returning."
Divyan shook his head and frowned. The hawk approached Sugriva without hesitation and bound his arms.
The monkey begged, "Listen to me. I saw the Ashtadash. It's why I'm not a demon. You've seen it, how your chaos warriors turn. Ishva of the fire, Wuzi of the water, and Taro Taro of the earth train me."
General Humbari grunted. "Taro Taro? What a stupid name. You're more creative than that, Sugriva. I look forward to burning you tomorrow."
"Let me prove what I say. Tomorrow, have the soldiers stone me all day. The following day tie me to stones and keep me at the bottom of the Gangre River. That evening recover my body and on the third day place me in a fire you stoke all day and night. When the sun rises, I’ll be sleeping in the pyre, and you’ll see I'm trained by the Ashtadash."
The room fell silent, the generals both fidgeting side to side. Prince Anka stroked his chin, eying the monkey with suspicion. "Do it. Generals, have your men collect rocks until there is a massive pile. From there, ask earth spirits to continue creating rocks. Have the men throw rocks at Sugriva all day. Worry about the drowning only if he sees sunset."
THE EARTH WAS BECKONED to restrain Sugriva so he couldn't move. Three days would be wasted on the spectacle, but he needed them to believe, and he knew how the people loved theatrics like the old myths. Or were they myths? He thought on the fact he met Ashtadash and had a half-water son, as the first rock struck his forehead. It hurt, his head pounding. Blood dripped down his face.
The crowd laughed, and General Humbari bellowed, "Looks like we will have that execution. Throw the next stone."
Sugriva invoked the spirits and grinned. The earth spirit who summoned up the restraints flinched, then looked at the monkey, slack jawed. The second rock bounced off him.
Humbari shuddered at the ineffective stone. "Throw another. Draw blood." Another bounced off. Then another. Finally Humbari came down and grabbed a large stone, one larger than Sugriva's head. It was nearing the largest rock Taro threw at him. Sugriva closed his eyes, praying to the spirits this would be covered by the protection.
The rock struck his head, and Sugriva's skull left a large dent in the side of the rock. Sugriva laughed. "The earth protects me. Would you like to drown me for the rest of the day so we can move on with this?"
Humbari roared, spittle covering Sugriva and
